established - 15 December 1972 aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations General Assembly
established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945 aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN members - (192) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
established - 3 December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951 aim - toensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanentsolutions to refugee problems members (executive committee) - (76)Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin,Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt,Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea,Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Madagascar, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
established - 17 November 1966; effective - 1 January 1967 aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members members - (172) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, US
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute; effective - 24 March 1965 aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research members (Board of Trustees) - (21) Algeria, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, France (2), Ghana, India, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland (2), Thailand, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members
United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)
established - 25 August 2006 aim - to support the Government, to support the electoral process, to ensure the restoration and maintenance of public security members - (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Singapore
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
established - 10 June 1999 aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief note - gives civilian support only; works closely with NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR)
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
established - 19 March 1978 aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council members - (28) Belgium, China, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
established - 24 January 1949 aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members - (8) Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
established - 29 April 1991 aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council members - (28) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Yemen
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
established 31 July 2000; aim was to monitor the cessation ofhostilities; mandate ended July 2008; members were Algeria, Austria,Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China,Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
established - 19 September 2003 aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in national security reform members - (45) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Togo, Ukraine, UK, US, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
established on 22 October 1999; aim was to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law; mandate ended 31 December 2005; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad(MINURCAT)
established - 25 September 2007 aim - to create the security and conditions which will to contribute to the protection of refugees, displaced persons, and citizens in danger, to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance in eastern Chad and the northeastern Central African Republic, to create favorable conditions for the reconstruction and economic and social development of these areas members - (22) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS)
established - March 2005 aim - to support implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement by Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement, by observing and monitoring movements of armed groups, and by helping disarm, demobilizing and reintegrating armed bands members - (61) Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherland, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, UK, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
established on 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to structures critical to public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to external security; members were Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden; completed its mandate 20 May 2005
United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission(UNMOVIC)
formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM); established December 1999 with the aim to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them; commissioners were from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US; finished operations 29 June 2007
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
established - 24 August 1993 aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council members - (32) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, South Korea, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Yemen
United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB)
was established 21 May 2004 to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation; members were Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia; mandate was completed 31 December 2006
United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
established - 27 February 2004 aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003 members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chad, China, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (MONUC)
established - 30 November 1999 aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces members - (48) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
established - 4 March 1964 aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council members - (7) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, UK
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities established - July 1967 aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East (UNRWA)
established - 8 December 1949 aim - to provide assistance toPalestinian refugees members (advisory commission) - (22) Australia,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, EC, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
established - 1963 aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 12 individual members
United Nations Secretariat
established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945 aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council members - the UN Secretary General and staff
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945 aim - to maintain international peace and security permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Austria (2009-10), Burkina Faso (2008-09), Costa Rica (2008-09), Croatia (2008-09), Japan (2009- 10), Libya (2008-09), Mexico (2009-10), Turkey (2009-10), Uganda (2009- 10), Vietnam (2008-09)
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
established - 30 April 2004 aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months members - (17) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
established - June 1948 aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship Council
established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved
United Nations University (UNU)
established - 3 December 1973 aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948 aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency members - (191) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (189 total); plus Holy See and Overseas Territories of the UK; note - includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest: Australia (Norfolk Island), China (Hong Kong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe Islands, Greenland), France (French Polynesia including Clipperton Island, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Scattered Islands [Bassas da India, Europe, Juan de Nova, Glorioso Islands, Tromelin], Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba, Netherlands Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos), US (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)
Warsaw Pact (WP)
established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Albania
West African Development Bank (WADB)
note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution of WAEMU established - 14 November 1973 aim - to promote regional economic development and integration regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
note - also known as Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) established - 1 August 1994 aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU)
established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955 aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden
World Bank Group
includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
established 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of ChristianTrade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968; aim was to promote thetrade union movement; on 31 October 2006 it merged with theInternational Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) to form theInternational Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); members were (105national organizations) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria,Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, FrenchGuiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta,Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Customs Organization (WCO)
note - began as the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) established - 15December 1950 aim - to promote international cooperation in customsmatters members - (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra,Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, EC, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintLucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
established - 3 October 1945 aim - to promote the trade union movementmembers - (174 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan,Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, BritishVirgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,Saint Barthelemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,Somaliland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, US Virgin Islands,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna,Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine LiberationOrganization
World Food Program (WFP)
established - 24 November 1961 aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO)
established - 22 July 1946; effective - 7 April 1948 aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency members - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
established - 14 July 1967; effective - 26 April 1970 aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (183 total); plus Holy See
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951 aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Timor- Leste, Tuvalu (180 total); plus Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, British Caribbean Territories, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, and Niue
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
established - 2 January 1975 aim - to promote tourism as a means ofcontributing to economic development, international understanding, andpeace members - (154) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau,Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico observers - (1 plusPalestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Palestine LiberationOrganization
World Trade Organization (WTO)
note - succeeded General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT)established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995 aim - toprovide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carryon negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminatingtariffs and other trade barriers members - (153) Albania, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe observers - (30)Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus,Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,Holy See, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya,Montenegro, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles,Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen; note - with theexception of the Holy See, an observer must start accessionnegotiations within five years of becoming observers
Zangger Committee (ZC)
established - early 1970s aim - to establish guidelines for the exportcontrol provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty(NPT) members - (36) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea,Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,Ukraine, UK, US observers - (1) European Commission
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Appendix C :: Selected International Invironmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Antarctic - Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature - 1 December 1959 entered into force - 23 June 1961 objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees south latitude parties - (46) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of HazardousWastes and Their Disposal
note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes opened for signature - 22 March 1989 entered into force - 5 May 1992 objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate parties - (172) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan, Haiti, US
Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity
Climate Change
see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals opened for signature - 1 June 1972 entered into force - 11 March 1978 objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ
Convention on Biological Diversity
note - abbreviated as Biodiversity opened for signature - 5 June 1992entered into force - 29 December 1993 objective - to develop nationalstrategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biologicaldiversity parties - (191) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that havesigned, but not yet ratified - (1) US
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the HighSeas
note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation opened for signature - 29 April 1958 entered into force - 20 March 1966 objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited parties - (38) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (21) Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution opened for signature - 13 November 1979 entered into force - 16 March 1983 objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution parties - (51) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially asWaterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
note - abbreviated as Wetlands opened for signature - 2 February 1971entered into force - 21 December 1975 objective - to stem theprogressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future,recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and theireconomic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value parties - (154)Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Zambia
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources opened for signature - 5 May 1980 entered into force - 7 April 1982 objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve Antarctic marine living resources parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of WildFlora and Fauna (CITES)
note - abbreviated as Endangered Species opened for signature - 3March 1973 entered into force - 1 July 1975 objective - to protectcertain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a systemof import/export permits parties - (170) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Pakistan,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Zambia, Zimbabwe
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes andOther Matter (London Convention)
note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping opened for signature - 29 December 1972 entered into force - 30 August 1975 objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention; the London Convention came into force in 1996 parties - (88) Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (associate member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu associate members to the London Convention - (2) Faroe Islands, Macau countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Chad, Kuwait, Uruguay
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use ofEnvironmental Modification Techniques
note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification opened for signature - 10 December 1976 entered into force - 5 October 1978 objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations parties - (73) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lithuania, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (16) Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda
Desertification
see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species
see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes
see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
note - abbreviated as Whaling opened for signature - 2 December 1946 entered into force - 10 November 1948 objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks parties - (84) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uruguay
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83 opened for signature - 18 November 1983 entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources parties - (59) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature - 26 January 1994 entered into force - 1 January 1997 objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective parties - (61) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange
note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol opened for signature - 16 March 1998 entered into force - 23 February 2005 objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries parties - (184) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Kazakhstan, US
Law of the Sea
see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping
see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)
Marine Life Conservation
see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
note - abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection opened for signature - 16September 1987 entered into force - 1 January 1989 objective - toprotect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of substances thatdeplete it parties - (194) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Zambia, Zimbabwe
Nuclear Test Ban
see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection
see Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for thePrevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
note - abbreviated as Ship Pollution opened for signature - 17February 1978 entered into force - 2 October 1983 objective - topreserve the marine environment through the complete elimination ofpollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization ofaccidental discharge of such substances parties - (139) Algeria,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, FaroeIslands, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar Romania,Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol opened for signature - 4 October 1991 entered into force - 14 January 1998 objective - to provide for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; applies to the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty consultative parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay non consultative parties - (12) Austria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides orTheir Transboundary Fluxes
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides opened for signature - 31 October 1988 entered into force - 14 February 1991 objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes parties - (32) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Poland
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile OrganicCompounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds opened for signature - 18 November 1991 entered into force - 29 September 1997 objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects parties - (23) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Canada, EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 opened for signature - 14 June 1994 entered into force - 5 August 1998 objective - to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes parties - (28) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants opened for signature - 24 June 1998 entered into force - 23 October 2003 objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects parties - (29) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (8) Armenia, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their TransboundaryFluxes by at Least 30%
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 opened for signature - 8 July 1985 entered into force - 2 September 1987 objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993 parties - (23) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine